Retired deputy sentenced to day in jail for grand theft

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Retired deputy sentenced to day in jail for grand theft

SAN DIEGO — A now-retired San Diego County sheriff’s sergeant who continued to use a county vehicle when he supposed to turn it in pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of grand theft by an employee.

Chris Machitar, 52, was immediately sentenced to a day in custody, placed on three years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $1,101, said Deputy District Attorney Annette Irving.

Machitar — who did not appear at the downtown court hearing — has already paid full restitution, according to the prosecutor.

Officials said Machitar was issued a county car when he joined the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Team. When he was promoted to sergeant, he was told to turn in the vehicle so it could be auctioned or destroyed.

Two years later, sheriff’s officials discovered Machitar still had the county vehicle and was using a county gas card to fill it up.

4 comments

A mere slap on the hand. Retired cop probably has dirt on someone.

This is just the tip of the iceberg! A criminal with this much courage has probably done much worse than this in his career. Full restitution my keister! How could he possibly restore our trust in the law enforcement. I smell a cover-up to protect the reputation of officials, given the slap on the hand he received. Hold these Cops accountable for their actions! I’m not saying make an example of anyone but given the level of trust given, theft, blatant theft needs to be dealt with accordingly.